469 candidates in fray for Odisha ULB polls tomorrow

Odisha State Election Commission (SEC) has made elaborate arrangements for smooth conduct of elections to eight urban local bodies (ULBs) in Odisha tomorrow.

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“There are 469 contestants in the fray in the 129 wards in various civic bodies that will go to polls tomorrow. We have made elaborate arrangements for free and fair polls,” SEC Information Officer Rabindra Kumar Nayak said.

The voters will cast their votes in 183 booths of which 115 have been identified as sensitive/very sensitive. Besides, close circuit cameras have been mounted in as many as 18 booths to keep a close watch on troublemakers, the official said.

Voting will begin on the electronic voting machines (EVMs) from 8 am till 5 pm in the presence of a presiding officer and three polling officers at each polling station.

For free and fair conduct of polls, the SEC has made provision to deploy eight poll observers, and eight expenses observer too.

Notably, the counting and announcement of results will be on April 8, a day after the polling.

It may be mentioned that 1, 50, 186 voters will exercise their franchise at Paradip, Sunabeda and Belpahar municipalities and five notified area councils (NACs)– Rairakhol, Balimela, Daspalla, Tusra and Dharmagarh.

While eight ULBs will go to poll tomorrow, election in Ranpur NAC will be held on May 5 as the SEC had postponed the polls from April 7 owing to anomalies in seat reservation.